July 8th, 2007

It's Sunday July 8th, 2007. We return to the long standing tradition of launching Navel Gazing with an image of some under sea horror. So please join myself, the sasquatch lobster, the laser squid and Scooter Libby in welcoming the Octosquid to the party.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Months of hype came to an end this week as the new full lengths from both Against Me! and Bad Religion were officially unveiled. We had streams of New Wave and New Maps of Hell , both of which hit stores next Tuesday. Speaking of the Gainesville act, they announced more dates for their tour with Gaslight Anthem and Two Gallants. A number of high profile tours were announced this week, as Richmond acts Avail and Smoke Or Fire will share the stage later this year. Strung Out announced the first leg of a US tour, this one to feature A Wilhelm Scream and I Am Ghost. Ignite is set to hit the road in the US and Europe as well. One band that won't be touring is O Pioneers!!!, as they're regrouping to deal with the departure of Jeff Johnson.

Dave Walsh and Chris Gonzalez of the Explosion have officially joined up with the Loved Ones. The Explosion will bow out later this summer, playing farewell shows with Modern Life Is War and the Ergs. You can add a few more names to the list of defunct bands, as both Hot Cross and Reggie and the Full Effect are calling it quits. On the new music front we previewed Reel Big Fish's "Party Down," MXPX's "Secret Weapon" and Every Time I Die's "Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Battery." Victory returned to the headlines with the signing of Across Five Aprils. Finally this week ended with the unfortunate news that Tinkture's drummer was injured in a fireworks prank.

Remember that Punknews.org and Fat Wreck Chords have teamed up for the San Francisco AIDS Walk. It's a great cause and you can show your support by making a donation or even joining us at the walk.

Our Video Of The Week featured the first segment of an interview and live performance by current Org-coverage kings Against Me!. We also posted an interview with acclaimed Toronto hardcore act Fucked Up (interview). Our Editors' Picks for the week featured Dirty Money, Bob Burns and the Breakups and Resonance.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

July 1st, 2007

It's Sunday July 1st, 2007. Happy Canada Day everyone! I won't waste too much time here as I need to get back to my long weekend. I guess our friends in the US have, um, Wednesday off… which is sort of the same thing. It's not a long weekend or anything, but… well I guess you can sleep in. That's something. Just don't stay out too late.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

The legendary Bad Brains returned this week with the release of Build a Nation. The record's been streaming online all week. We had word of several new releases in the wings. Weezer's not quite dead yet, as the influential alt rock act announced plans to release a new record next year. The same goes for My Chemical Romance, although we never really thought they were dead. They just need some sun. The Dropkick Murphys finished recording their new record, so expect that later this year. Thurday doesn't have a new studio album on the way yet, but they did patch things up with Victory for a retrospective DVD/CD. Following in Thursday's lead, Thrice parted ways with major label Island Records. The band is set to hit the road this fall with Brand New and mewithoutYou. Speaking bands recently off the major label train, long time bassist Matt Wong has left third-wave ska punks Reel Big Fish.

This week saw The Used cancel their upcoming tour plans due to the singer's surgery, Vagrant sign the Watchmen dubbed Dr. Manhattan, and Civet seemingly sigh with Hellcat. Nary a week goes by without half a dozen Against Me! articles, and this week is no exception. We had new music from NYHC standards Madball and a new video from Rise Against. We were introduced to two acts with strong pedigrees this week, those being the Re-volts (Swingin Utters, Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, Dead to Me, One Man Army) and Last Of The Believers (Rise Against, Ignite, Reach the Sky, Spark of Life).

Our Video Of The Week featured Olympia, the DC/Richmond based post-Fairweather act. We interviewed Carbondale, IL's very own Red Scare pop-punk upstarts The Copyrights (interview).

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

June 24th, 2007

It's Sunday June 24th, 2007. Now I know that in their statement the Punk Planet editors mused that the internet was possibly a factor in their downfall, but as a representative of the internet I have to say that everyone in our organization is going to miss you. Unlike us, you couldn't rush back and re-edit your articles when the snarky comment kids started pointing out your errors. We have nothing but respect for that, as fear would paralyze us from giving up our precious edit button.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

This week we bid farewell to Punk Planet, the influential and respected magazine, founded in 1994, ceased production with its 80th issue. More details were unveiled on the Weakerthans upcoming fourth album Reunion Tour. We got a peek at the cover art and track listing for the September-arriving record. Now it was probably just for fun, but we had reports from a few sources that members of the Sex Pistols were in the studio "having a laugh." While we're not expecting a new record don't be surprised to see some shows this December. Speaking of the studio, that's where Saves The Day is, promising new albums this year and next. New music arrived this week from Whole Wheat Bread, who previewed their upcoming record, and Social Distortion, who unleashed the new track from their greatest hits album. Angels and Airwaves is up to something or other, probably promoting an upcoming album, but they that's far less epic than they want it to sound.

The disco before the breakdown? Against Me posted a dance remix of their single "White People for Peace." The band's press machine didn't stop there, as we had news of a limited edition pre-order 7", and a second "making of" video. Andrew WK, having left us here in North America starving for the party, will finally release some new material domestically. White Stripes frontman Jack White spoke about that radio leak and the appropriateness of his response. Finally this week we had news of a tribute to Leatherface featuring music from Hot Water Music and the Sainte Catherines and the soundtrack to Transformers, which will feature Armor For Seep and Taking Back Sunday. Oh, and an MSNBC columnist decided that all your favourite bands are overrated, but we're not really sure what his point is.

Our Video Of The Week featured pop-punk/melodic-hardcore hybrid Set Your Goals. We interviewed South Dakota's The Spill Canvas (interview) We streamed music from Ben Weasel's new solo record, Philadelphia melodic hardcore band Giving Chase, the The Story Changes' upcoming full length, and the new full length from legendary hardcore pioneers Bad Brains.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

June 17, 2007

It's Sunday June 17th, 2007. Now despite what I read when I was 11 I really don't know much about palaeontology, and in particular the naming conventions used. However when we hear that the newly discovered five meter tall dino has been dubbed the Gigantoraptor, you suspect it's based purely on what sounds the most bombastic. I suppose Incrediraptor and Amazoraptor were taken.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

It was World War Emo this week as the mainstream pop-punk / emo acts engaged in battle on multiple fronts. On the physical side of things Fall Out Boy mouthpiece Pete Wentz and team of security commandos clobbered a heckler at Chicago rock club Schuba's. Meanwhile there was some heat between My Chemical Romance and shock rocker Marilyn Manson as the latter accused the former of encroaching on his creepy pale guy racket. The New York Post took a step back and did an exposé on the management company behind bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and Gym Class Heroes (oh, and the Bronx, weirdly enough), which prompted MTV to turn on their darlings and ask if emo is the new incarnation of 80's hair metal.

So members of the Dead Kennedys looked at all the white belts and eyeliner flying and thought "let's show these kids how you really feud" and launched another volley in their long standing fight. Bassist Klaus Flouride accused Biafra of banning him from a Dirk Dirksen tribute, to which Jello countered it was an insulted promoter's doing, not his.

However it wasn't all conflict this week. Against Me! continued their New Wave push with a "making of" video. The Germs film was completed and the first screenings were announced. Strung Out appeased their rabid fans with a video for "Calling" and Guff announced a surprising collaboration with Steve Perry of Journey. Rancid is set to record in January of next year, but before that we'll see another of the Hellcat showcasing Give 'Em The Boot compilations. Finally the World/Inferno Friendship Society are working on a punk-rock opera following Peter Lorre's life.

This week also saw the passing of Kawakami, long time vocalist and guitarist for the Japanese band Disclose.

Our Video Of The Week was a two-parter, featuring a video interview and performance from Philadelphia's Loved Ones. We interviewed Epitaph hip-hop act Sage Francis (interview and UK based The Automatic Automatic (interview).

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

June 10th, 2007

It's Sunday June 10th, 2007. I suppose when tasked with making some quip about the week that passed, most media folk would say something on the trials and tribulations of a certain wealthy socialite heiress… but that's not the way things work here at the Org, so what do you get from me is FIN FANG FOOM! The most fearful menace of them all! What more could you possibly want?

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

So I'm looking at the magic mirror which reveals the week's biggest articles and I see a virtual hype race between Against Me! and Strung Out. First we had Against Me! teasing their video for "White People for Peace" with some streaming music while Strung Out previewed Blackhawks Over Los Angeles with some new music of their own. A few days after the initial hype we had Against Me's "White People for Peace" video and Strung Out's "Blackhawks over Los Angeles" album stream. That's the way to run a railroad, kids. Rage Against The Machine took it a step further, creating a countdown to something mysterious to get people talking. Guitarist Tom Morello took some time out of his busy guerrilla schedule to chat with Socialist Worker as well. Around here all Propagandhi needs to do is sneeze and they'll get grassroots hype. The announcement of a new album in Spring of 2008 takes it a step further.

This week saw Courtney Love claim that Linda Perry would produce the next Green Day record, and the band flat out denying that. We had news that A Wilhelm Scream have finished their next record as well. A set of tour dates were announced for Lifetime and the Bouncing Souls. They'll share the stage with the Ergs! and Static Radio NJ on select shows. Finally we had a new song posted by Throwdown. Oh, and we took some time to made fun of the "guyliner" thing again. Making fun of emo kids is somewhat of a sport around here.

This week also saw the tragic passing of John Pike, drummer of Syracuse, NY's Ra Ra Riot and Ben Hutson of Richmond, VA's Mancub.

Our Video Of The Week featured Brooklyn's Nakatomi Plaza performing a brand new song live in Richmond, VA.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

June 3rd, 2007

It's Sunday June 3rd, 2007. So last week when I predicted that Trio story? The truth is I'm not clairvoyant. We already had the article written. As a matter of fact, just like some newspapers have pre-written obituaries for famous people, we here at the Org have pre-written major label signing articles. We hope never to have to use the "Crass signs to Jive" article, but if they ever do…

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

The Alkaline Trio topped the news heap this week as the popular band finally announced that they've found a home at major label Epic Records. Looking into the band's future we previewed a new track from the upcoming Warped compilation and reminiscing the past we had details on their Goddamnit reissue. Fat Mike of NOFX spoke about the future of Punk Voter , and while they made a big impact in the punk scene the organization looks like it'll be scaling down. An incident that we can only call a "snacksident" saw Set Your Goals arrested in Georgia. We had photos from Good Riddance's final show and word that a book of Fugazi photos is planned for September. White Stripes guitar hero Jack White tore a strip off of a Chicago DJ for playing the band's new record before it's release/

Bad Brains keep talking their new record releasing a slew of details and future plans. a 7" from Big Rig, which featured Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy and Common Rider , will see a reissue on 1-2-3-4 Go!. Post Blink-182 act Angels & Airwaves spoke about their next album as well. This week saw a video for "Underclass Hero" by pop punks Sum 41. Jim Lindberg from Pennywise spoke about his role as punk rock dad. Social music site Last.fm was purchased for $280 million. Finally we saw a news organization call out their peers for drumming up a whole moral panic over those pesky emo kids, who while often ridiculous and funny looking, probably aren't gong to destroy society.

This week we brought you the exclusive debut of Sundowner's video for "This War is Noise". Our Editors' Picks for last week's holiday Monday featured Battles and Italy's Stolen Bikes Ride Faster. We streamed new music this week from the Eyeball act Signal To Noise and a full album stream from The Measure [SA]. Jesse sat down with Seth Hubbard of Polyvinyl Records to chat about the indie label and their current challenges (interview).

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

May 27th, 2007

It's Sunday May 27th, 2007. I'm so clairvoyant I predict one of next weeks biggest stories will arrive around at around midnight tonight. You should all prove me wrong by ignoring it and not commenting on it at all. Just go to bed early. Get some sleep. You really need to rest more you look horrible.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

So first I break a lace and for the life of me can't find a long enough replacement, and now this. Advertising images peddling boots from U.K. based Dr. Martens was unveiled --- and it featured the photo-manipulated sales-angels of Joe Strummer, Joey Ramone, Sid Vicious and Kurt Cobain. After a few days of negative feedback (including some from Joey Ramone's brother) the makers of the iconic rock-related boot apologized for the the "unauthorized" campaign, firing their ad agency in the process. Aside from that, we had a deluge of Green Day news, among them an appearance by the the band on a popular TV talent show performing John Lennon's "Working Class Hero." The band apparently won't be featured on the Simpsons Movie soundtrack, despite the fact that they're in it (that honor goes to Fall Out Boy, which I guess is sort of fitting), but they will contribute to the score. Oh, and just to get you all riled up Rolling Stone named American Idiot the best comeback album ever.

This week saw Vinnie confirme earlier reports that Less Than Jake had left Warner / Sire. The much loved "Goddamnit" album from the Alkaline Trio (cough) will be re-issued soon via Asian Man. Cartel launched their much debated, corporate sponsored bubble stunt. Against Me! kept in the press, with a tour diary from Tom Gabel and a video interview from Warren Oakes. Whole Wheat Bread talked their upcoming album while Good Riddance announced that their final show will be recorded for a live album. Finally, Utah joined the list of US states to have their own little moral panic over the big spooky "emo" movement that's corrupting the kids.

Our Video of the Week featured Richmond, VA's Landmines while our Editors' Picks featured music from Bracewar, Jewdriver and an animated Calvin & Hobbes clip, just because. We streamed new music this week from the Gaslight Anthem, their entire new album, in fact.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

May 20th, 2007

It's Sunday May 20th, 2007. It's May Two Four up here in Canuckistan. The long weekend basically involves everyone heading to a cottage, drinking and blowing things up in honour of Queen Victoria. It's a grand ol' time, too bad you suckers south of the border hoofed the Monarchy or else you could get in on this. But you did and you can't. So there.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

This week brought us plenty of updates from some of old favouries. Bad Religion released not one but two very different tracks from their upcoming full length New Maps of Hell. The steady trickle of Tim Armstrong song releases was wrapped up in a full album stream from the Rancid frontman. NOFX talked about their touring plans for `07, confirming that they will not appear at Reading and Leeds. Staying with the Fat Wreck family, the label announced their 1,2,3, Punk tour of Canada featuring the Mad Caddies, the Sainte Catherines, and the Real McKenzies. The label also confirmed that there would be no vinyl issued for the upcoming Strung Out and No Use for a Name releases. Two former Fat bands were in the news, with Rise Against planning a new album and Less Than Jake apparently leaving Warner (more on that next week!).

The post-Blink-182 factions were back in the news. Former Distillers member Ryan Sinn was kicked out of Angels & Airwaves, while Plus 44 promised some Blink covers at their live shows. Details were released on hte upcoming Iggy Pop biopic starring Frodo as the influential Stooges frontman. Finally this week saw recording updates from Jimmy Eat World as well as A Wilhelm Scream while Silverstein detailed their upcoming Arrivals And Departures

Our Video of the Week now, and I suspect for a while after knowing Chris, will feature Inquisition reunion. Check out a two part video-interview with the melodic-hardcore act, Part 1 and Part 2. I suspect we'll see some performance footage soon enough. We brought you streaming music from Clorox Girls and their new album J' aime Les Filles, Trophy Scars' EP Hospital Music for the Aesthetics of Language, the split between Fox Trotsky and Die Benny, and four songs from recent A-F signing Incommunicado.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

May 13th, 2007

It's Sunday May 13th, 2007. So Google's advanced analytics software looked at Punknews and with it's vast cold mechanical brain decided upon the most appropriate ad given our content. Its choice? Eye makeup. Fucking fantastic. This is your fault Wentz! Damn your seductive glance and the price it's taken on our souls!

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Let's hit the drama first then work our way to the routine stuff. Canuck pop-punks Sum 41 exchanged barbs with Rolling Stone magazine over attacks the band made on the US president. The cafe owner allegedly responsible giving My Chemical Romance and Muse food poisoning has receiving death threats from the former band's fans. The drummer for Ottawa punks the Suicide Pilots was implicated in the Environment Canada leak scandal. Chris McCaughan of the Lawrence Arms addressed and denied rumours that the band is breaking up. Rise Against, Thursday and Silverstein were recruited by animal rights organization PETA2 for an anti-KFC video. Most controversially, ska-punks the Mad Caddies launched their official hot sauce. Scandalicious!

American Steel are back together and they've signed to Fat Wreck Chords. Fans got their first official taste of Against Me!'s new record with the "White People for Peace" single, while Strung Out released "Calling" from their new record. Bad Religion is planning a digital single for May 22nd, more details arrived for No Use For A Name's "Best Of" collection, and that Operation Ivy reissue's been delayed due to, well, we're not really sure. The Groovie Ghoulies called it quits after a long career. The Stray Cats are back together for a tour this summer. Finally Slayer and Bleeding Through are looking to drum up some controversy on a tour with shock rocker Marilyn Manson.

Our Video of the Week featured Florida's Fake Problems while our Editors Picks featured a Mother's Day tune from Staring Back. We brought you streaming music every day, featuring a track from Sound The Alarm, a full album from Cincinnati's Black Tie Bombers, some psychobilly from Toronto's The Creepshow, the debut from Tomorrow the Gallows, Ringers new album Detention Halls and a new track from My American Heart. On the interview front we spoke with Avail frontman Tim Barry (interview).

Click Read More to see this week's streaming music and more.

May 6th, 2007

It's Sunday May 6th, 2007. So Chris Hannah wants to be named the Worst Canadian, and you may think he doesn't have what it takes -- but I do. Chris Hannah derailed the Meech Lake Accord. Chris Hannah cancelled the Avro Arrow program. Chris Hannah sold Labatt's to the Belgians and Sleeman to the Japanese. Who caused the collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery? that's right folks: Chris Hannah.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Well Rage Against The Machine's been back for a few weeks now and they've already managed to stir up some trouble. The band reunited for Coachella, playing some of their classics to an enthusiastic crowd, while delivering that radical political message we all know and love. Well that message managed to rile up pundit blowhards Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter, which come to think of it isn't that hard. This wasn't the only Fox News venture into music this week, as the network went "undercover" in the emo scene. We had some news about Michael Muhammad Knight's novel The Taqwacores, depicting a fictitious Muslim punk scene in the US that has since spawned the real thing. Pop stars Fall Out Boy are headed to Uganda in support of the "Invisible Children" charity. This week saw news of Courtney Love planning to auction off Kurt Cobain's belongings, My Chemical Romance and Muse cancelling a tour due to food poisoning, and the break up of troubled punk act The Explosion.

Let's talk new records. The build up to Against Me!'s New Wave continues as the band keeps revealing details. We saw info on Strung Out's Blackhawks, the Beastie Boys' instrumental record, the next Warped Tour compilation, and the reissue of the Foo Fighters' Colour and the Shape. Goldfinger posted a new song for animal activist Kevin Kjonaas. That long awaited Operation Ivy reissue has been delayed to July, and former member Tim Armstrong posted more music from his solo album.

Our Video of the Week featured New Jersey's Gaslight Anthem while our Editors Picks for the week included a mash-up of unknown British bands the Beatles and the Clash. We brought you streaming music every day, featuring J Church's new record The Horror Of Life, the Ergs' Upstairs/Downstairs, some critically acclaimed catalogue material from Autonym, the Mad Caddies latest Keep It Going, ex-Ducky Boy Mark Lind's Compulsive Fuck Up, and Fake Problems new LP How Far Our Bodies Go. On the interview front we spoke with the Mad Caddies (interview), the Paper Chase (interview), and Keeley Davis of Glos, Engine Down, Sparta and Denali (interview).

Click Read More to see this week's streaming music, contests, comic and more.

April 29th, 2007

It's Sunday April 29th, 2007. So because everyone loves to swap the correlation and causality, the news was jumping up and down trying to blame the collapse of bee colonies on the increasing use of cell phones. I started making a list of additional things that happened as the bee populations decreased, and then I figured it out: Against Me signed to Warner. The timeframes match up, so it's gotta be true. Who's going to pollinate the crops now Tom?

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Wentz! Wentz! Wentz! We haven't had this much fun with a mainstream punk celebrity since Tom Delonge got all creepy before his last record. First the Fall Out Boy mouthpiece announced plans to open a bar in the East Village, then topped off the week by being named one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People". Punk rock! So what's Cartel up to? Oh how about recording live in a giant transparent bubble sponsored by Dr. Pepper. You better believe it's a reality show too. If you think that's sounds a tad absurd then Bob Lefsetz agrees. My Chemical Romance didn't do anything to stir up controversy, but they are minus a bassist, at least temporarily. Of course if we're confusing you feel free to check MSN / Channel 4 for a mom-friendly explanation of the "emo" thing.

Yikes. What a paragraph. Let's try and regain some cred with some Crass news. Steve Ignorant is planning a live performance at the "Feeding of the 5000" event. Bad Religion's revised the track listing for their upcoming record New Maps of Hell. Crime In Stereo signed up with Bridge 9 Records while their former Nitro bandmates Much The Same called it quits. HORSE the Band claimed that mainstream rock act Snow Patrol ripped off their "Birdo" video. We got a look at the art for the new Against Me! record. Canuck pop-punks Sum 41 released a new song. There are plans to release a new song from Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong each Tuesday. Controversial professor, Ward Churchill, spoke in Winnipeg this weekend. The Foo Fighters are recording with Pixies producer Gil Norton, and the band will appear alongside Spinal Tap at Al Gore's "Live Earth."

Our Editors Picks for the week included music from Heroes Die and Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip. We brought you streaming music every day, featuring Limbeck, Cardiff UK's The Automatic Automatic, Test Your Reflex, Deathkiller, and longstanding ska act the Toasters. On the interview front we spoke with Nikola Sarcevic (interview), the Thermals (interview), the Reason (interview), Mêlée (interview), and producers of the film American Hardcore.

Click Read More to see this week's streaming music, and more.

April 22nd, 2007

It's Sunday April 22nd, 2007. This last week was either horrifically sad or horrifically boring, and pretty much didn't waver between those extremes. Let's not talk about it. Next week though, oh wow, it's interview mania here at the `Org. We've got a great feature coming at you every day of the week featuring bands like the Thermals, Millencolin, the Reason and more. Interviews hit daily at 6:30 EST. To top it all off, new streaming music every day at 4:00. You know where to be.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

So let's talk "neo-punk." I have no idea what that is but it somehow spans both NOFX and Fall Out Boy, and it's also the subject of an upcoming book. The book features Kevin Lyman of the ever massive Warped Tour, a venture that's looking for your opinion this year. I know Social Distortion was around and rocking during this so-called neo-punk period, but I doubt they fit neatly into that timeframe. The classic band has a greatest hits record and new full length on the way soon. Now Strung Out definitely fits into that period, but they were a bit too much of a cult favourite so they may not be featured. They are however on tour soon. Now Rancid's got to have a whole chapter in there, with Tim Armstrong quotes must. The frontman's new solo outing is still free, contrary to reports, it's just going to require some work on your part. Now during said neo-punk era a lot of us were chasing that 3rd wave ska dream, and while it didn't quite work out for us we can still relive the glory art that Reel Big Fish / Less Than Jake tour. Pennywise, featuring "Punk Rock Dad" Jim Lindberg, is a shoe in for any chronicle of that period.

This was a busy little week. Against Me! plans to release two songs on tour-only 7-inch. Canadian ska-punk act the Flatliners signed to Fat Wreck Chords. Dan Yemin's Paint It Black are set to record their third in August. Coalesce's Sean Ingram is in the People's Court, and finally site favouites Bomb The Music industry signed up with Asian Man

Our Editors Picks for the week included music from Everything Sucks while our Video Of The Week featured archival footage of The Explosion liver in Richmond, VA. We brought you streaming music Red Scare upstarts The Copyrights, previewing their new record Make Sound.

Click Read More to see this week's streaming music, comic, and more.